Schools to reopen in Wales on 29 June

The education minister has revealed today that all schools in Wales will reopen on 29 June.

Schools will reopen for all year groups for limited periods during the week, and only a third of pupils will be in school at any one time, Kirsty Williams said.

Both schools and councils will make their own decisions over managing the return.

The summer term will be extended by one week to 27 July, the autumn half-term holiday will be stretched to two weeks.

Parents will not be fined if they decide not to send their children back to school, and any children that fall into shielding categories will carry on with online learning.

Initially, year groups will be split into smaller groups with staggered starts, lessons and breaks.

Education minister Kirsty Williams said:

All children will have the opportunity to “check in, catch up, prepare for summer and September”

”My announcement today gives schools three and a half weeks to continue preparing for the next phase.

We will use the last weeks of the summer term to make sure pupils, staff and parents are prepared – mentally, emotionally and practically – for the new normal in September”